Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (天穂のサクナヒメ)

Hup.

So this is rice planting?

Indeed it is.

The seedlings we grow are carefully planted one by one.

Hey, Kinta.

It's crooked.

What are you talking about?

Yours are crooked.

What do you mean? Mine are nice and...

As you can see,

planting the seedlings the right distance apart is difficult.

I see.

This is much easier.

We know exactly where to plant.

What a beautiful field.

She's not the goddess of invention for nothing.

Nothing like the goddess who lounges around despite calling herself a harvest goddess.

You didn't have to say that last part.

We appreciate your continued support, Princess Kokorowa.

What was that?

What's this?

Episode 9 The One Who Controls the Demons

Absolutely not! Demons are demons!

Her Highness is correct.

Demons are demons because they are wicked and evil.

There's no telling what might happen later if we don't finish it off now.

But what could it possibly do when it's so badly injured?

You've butchered and eaten plenty of demon rabbits before now.

You're not wrong, but...

I will bring medicine.

Myrthe.

I think you are right, but I cannot do nothing.

Just look at these wounds.

They seem to have been inflicted by a blade.

Perhaps it was driven away after a falling out.

If it was driven away, that means it's different from ordinary demons.

Please. Say something, Kinta.

Kinta?

I made medicine.

We should kill it.

Kinta...

Don't be naive.

What if it heals and attacks someone?

Well...

Kinta is right, but if we kill it so it can't kill us,

then we're no different from Ishimaru.

But...

We'll kick it out as soon as it can walk.

It can stay until then.

Goddess...

Yeah.

We'll go thank her later.

Honestly, they're all so demanding.

Kokorowa.

I'm surprised.

About what?

I doubt you would've heeded the requests of humans before.

It can't be helped.

I had to say that to settle the matter.

Honestly, they require so much looking after.

Do they?

Since coming to this island,

I've done all the hunting, exploring, and rice cultivating myself.

I was at my wit's end.

All by yourself?

Well...

Tauemon may be clumsy, but he reads that book so we can make better rice.

Myrthe has done her best to learn to cook unfamiliar Yanato dishes.

Yui and Kinta are still foul-mouthed children,

but despite how they seem, they're dexterous.

They've made farming tools and clothes.

Kaimaru is young, but he's doing his best.

They stumbled into the Lofty Realm, but none of them have given up.

Not a single one of them is bad at heart.

What's this?

A senbakoki.

It's for removing the unhulled rice from the plant.

I see.

What is that?

Don't worry about it.

It happens all the time on this island.

Though, lately, I feel like it's been happening too frequently.

Okay. Let's go down to the field below.

Tama? What's the matter?

Your Highness...

I was just wondering why that demon wandered in here.

What do you mean?

Lord Takeribi's illusion magic is cast over the entire pass.

Normally, a demon shouldn't be able to wander in here so easily.

In other words, the spell is weakening?

I considered that possibility,

but I believe it's not that the spell is getting weaker.

It's the evil energy that's getting stronger.

Then demons will show up here eventually.

If the evil energy continues to get stronger...

But if the evil energy is getting stronger,

doesn't that make it easier to find the source?

Isn't it easier to determine where the demons are coming from

and where the center of it is now?

You're right.

So we should use this opportunity to strike first.

That may not be a bad idea.

Looks like we can track it.

Kinta.

Huh?

I'm telling you this because I see you as an adult.

Keep an eye on the demon.

If it does anything suspicious, kill it right away.

Got it.

Thank you for waiting.

Where did you get that?

Lady Kamuhitsuki allowed me to bring it.

Let's go.

Do you think I could ride on its other shoulder?

It's important to walk on your own two legs.

Says the guy who floats around!

It's this way.

That's not where the Homusubi Specter's volcano was.

Let's go.

This place...

Ashigumo.

What is it?

Who are you?

My name is Kokorowa.

We followed the scent of a demon who wandered into the pass here.

Look.

That's the only place the mist isn't moving.

It's frozen in place.

This must be it.

Mother...

The mist...

There's a castle here?

It was hidden by a barrier, like our pass.

But do demons know how to do that?

There must be someone leading the demons.

They probably grew the number of demons on the island and attacked the Ashigumo.

What is it?

We're surrounded.

So many...

It's an ambush.

Looks like they knew we would come here.

Here?

That injured demon rabbit...

Was it bait to lure you here?

Kokorowa, stay here.